Burning Soul Domain! In Qianjing’s mind, the name of his Soul Domain instantly manifested, yet it felt subtly different from the Burning Soul Domain described by Lord Serpent Emperor; the precise difference remained elusive.
“Interesting. Capture them all alive…”
The eyes in the sky issued the command once more. For an army of this magnitude to surround just a few youths—failure to capture them alive was unthinkable.
The wooden-faced Zhence looked up at the sky, his gaze seeming to pierce through the eyes to the location of the Divine Capital of the Zhence Dynasty, muttering under his breath, “Third Brother, surely my death is enough? Can you please stop killing my other brothers? You have truly gone too far this time…”
“Gone too far? Really? I don’t think so.”
In a lavishly decorated room, upon soft velvet rugs, sat Changkong Zhence, the Third Prince of the Zhence Dynasty—a mere talented warrior cultivating both Demon and Battle arts. His flowing purple robes draped casually, exuding an indescribable aura of dignity and elegance. He slowly raised his wine goblet overhead, gazing at the crystalline sun in the sky. Changkong Zhence languidly turned his head as the First Prince, Haoquan Zhence, burst through the door, his face contorted with rage and killing intent.
“Third! You have gone too far!”
“Too far? I disagree.” Changkong Zhence adjusted his neck, regarding the furious man before him—a middle-aged figure with the imposing demeanor of a fierce tiger, thick eyebrows, large eyes, and broad features. The Third Prince settled into a venomous, cold smile, the earlier sentimentality vanishing entirely. “Isn't this Big Brother? What brings you here?”
“Do you know what you are doing?” Haoquan Zhence’s knuckles cracked loudly as he clenched his fists. He abruptly lunged forward, grabbing the front of Changkong Zhence’s robes, hoisting him up while roaring in his face, “Do you know what you are doing? Fourth Brother, you’re here too? Tell me, is he going too far?”
Royalty possessed unique, innate methods for transmitting messages. By now, Haoquan Zhence was aware that the taciturn Zhence had been tricked into the Ancient Desolate Sand Sea, and the architect of the trap was the man standing right here! The Third Prince, Changkong Zhence!
Yusuan Zhence was temporarily struck speechless, watching his two quarreling elder brothers…
“Me?” Changkong Zhence remained limp, allowing Haoquan Zhence to hold him by the collar, a cynical, sinister smile plastered on his face. “I know.”
Haoquan Zhence’s eye twitched several times, his thick arm trembling involuntarily. “Is the throne truly that important to you? Sixth Brother is your own kin! We share the same parents, born of the same mother and father! Blood brothers, sharing identical blood!”
“Yes, blood brothers,” Changkong Zhence replied, his voice perfectly even, the corner of his lip curled in a bitter smirk. “But, my dear Big Brother, there can only be one throne…”
“You…” Haoquan Zhence drew his battle blade and pressed the tip against Changkong Zhence’s chin. “I’ll kill you!”
“Fine! Go ahead! Do it!” Changkong Zhence’s cold smile suddenly shifted. He tore open his robes with both hands, exposing his strong chest, and seized the spine of Haoquan Zhence’s blade, pointing it directly at his own heart. “My dear Big Brother, look closely at the spot. Just one strike! For you, this wicked younger brother of yours, and for Sixth Brother, I, this terrible elder brother, would be dead. I wouldn't trouble any of you again.”
“You…” Haoquan Zhence’s wrist faltered.
“Why? Why, precisely, my dear Big Brother?” Changkong Zhence glared coldly at Haoquan Zhence, his voice transforming from initial low questioning to a roar of explosive anger. “Big Brother! My beloved Big Brother, I, Changkong Zhence, am also your blood brother! Born of the same mother! Why? Why can you treat me this way for the sake of Sixth Brother? Am I not your brother too? Fine! If you and Sixth Brother are brothers, and I am not? Right! Come on! I’ll let you kill me, do it!”
“Third Brother… you…”
“Third Brother…”
“Big Brother, come kill me! Kill me, and there will be no more stirring up trouble. Come and kill me!”
Facing Changkong Zhence’s heated confrontation, Haoquan Zhence could barely keep his grip on the battle blade, his expression hardening further. “Third Brother, is the throne really that crucial?”
“Yes! Exactly!” Changkong Zhence wrenched himself free from Haoquan Zhence’s grasp and looked up toward the sun in the sky. “That important.”
“But Sixth Brother told you more than once before that if you wanted to be Emperor, he would give it up; he didn't want the throne.”
“Ha!” Changkong Zhence let out a cold laugh, standing with his hands behind his back, straight and proud like a spear shaft. “So what? He was young then. What about the future? Besides, how do you know he wasn't lying? Sixth Brother is the most suitable among us brothers to rule the dynasty; that much is undeniable! Since he has the ability, he is a threat!”
“Then you could hire assassins to take him out…”
“Then I would forfeit my right to the throne,” Changkong Zhence sneered repeatedly, like the most venomous serpent on earth. “Our Zhence clan has rules: anyone employing such methods shows a lack of capability, disqualifying them from the succession! If an assassin were to strike Sixth Brother now and he died, who in the court wouldn't know it was my doing? Not only did I refrain from sending assassins, but I even dispatched guards to protect him, rooting out anything meant to frame me.”
Haoquan Zhence stared at Changkong Zhence, his hands and feet rooted to the spot. “Third Brother, you are too ruthless. We are brothers…”
Changkong Zhence slowly turned, lowered his head, then slowly raised it, flipping his eyelids to regard Haoquan Zhence. “Big Brother, do you have anything else to say? Right now, you either execute me, or I ask you to leave.”
“You…” Haoquan Zhence shot him a fierce glare, realizing further conversation here was futile. He turned quickly and strode toward the door, intending to muster troops and ride day and night to rescue people!
“Third Brother…”
“Am I going too far? I truly don’t think I’m going too far?” Changkong Zhence spoke as if to himself, yet faintly addressing the Fourth Prince, Yusuan Zhence, beside him. “I truly don’t believe I’m being excessive.”
Yusuan Zhence quietly observed the Third Prince, Changkong Zhence, holding his wine cup. With sharp eyebrows, piercing eyes, and a high nose bridge, he possessed an air of refined luxury, yet his expression simultaneously held a calculating cunning, making anyone who looked at him immediately feel he was the type to lurk in the shadows, ambushing and plotting against others. Despite his handsome appearance and the aura of having the world in his grasp, the intrinsic craftiness in his features never waned. But nobody knew… this prince was actually… he… he…
“Third Brother, Sixth Brother is still young…”
“Young?” Changkong Zhence’s slender eyes flickered, revealing a cold, dismissive sneer. “So what? When I was his age, I was already helping Father Emperor review memorials! That is the difference between him and me!”
“Third Brother… why must you…”
“Fourth Brother, say no more.” Changkong Zhence set down his wine cup. “Sixth Brother possesses the greatest talent among us, and is the most suitable successor to the Zhence Dynasty throne. Not everyone can just be kind to him, indulge him, and help him; that is actually harming him.”
“But…”
“No buts! Trial by fire! With such excellent talent, it must be unleashed; he needs trials! Trials of survival or death! Without undergoing trials, how can one become Emperor? How can one become a good Emperor?”
“But what you are doing now, in his eyes, is you competing with him for the throne!”
“And… so what?” Changkong Zhence remained entirely placid, looking up at Yusuan Zhence, who was rising in agitation. “If it means a more capable Emperor emerges, what does it matter if he hates me? If Sixth Brother successfully ascends the throne someday, he can kill me then; what of it?”
Changkong Zhence poured himself a cup of mellow rice wine, rubbing the glass between his index finger and thumb. “Someone always has to play the villain. Everyone claims I have a visage born of treachery; it is only fitting that I undertake this role. Which minister in the entire court doesn't accuse me of harboring wolfish ambition? Capable of regicide, fratricide, even parricide, all for the sake of the throne…”
“They don’t understand you…”
“I don't need them to understand! And I certainly don't need Sixth Brother to understand! If he understood, how would he ever be tempered?” Changkong Zhence waved his hand forcefully, a rare flicker of melancholy crossing his face. “Am I so pathetic now that I require others to understand me, Fourth Brother?”
“Third Brother…”
“No need to say more. I’ve been playing the villain for a long time; I’m used to it, I even enjoy it,” Changkong Zhence chuckled lightly. “Honestly, I envy Sixth Brother. He can find a group of friends, while we only have subordinates sworn to absolute loyalty. Perhaps that is the greatest gulf between us and him?”
“That’s because he was lucky enough to meet Qianjing, who also gathered friends around him…”
“Yes, Qianjing is a truly unique person. If… I mean, if… haha… I genuinely wish to meet him. He carries the same aura as Sixth Brother, an aura that draws others to friendship. Perhaps his aura is even stronger than Sixth Brother’s, which is why it attracted Sixth Brother…”
“Third Brother… are you really not going to tell Big Brother?”
“Tell him what?” Changkong Zhence lifted his eyelids. “Big Brother is a good man, and brave, but he can’t act. Sixth Brother is no fool; that boy is sharp. If he manages to survive this ordeal, even if Big Brother tries to feign ignorance, it will be exposed quickly, leading him to deduce my true intentions. That absolutely cannot happen.”
“But this will only lead more people to misunderstand you…”
“Others might not know me, but you do, don't you?” Changkong Zhence looked up at Yusuan Zhence. “I was born with Severed Meridians; I am destined never to live past twenty-six. This is my final year…”
“There might still be a way… Qianjing is a master alchemist…”
“There is no way; both you and I know that clearly. Why fool ourselves? Clever people never engage in the foolish act of self-deception.” Changkong Zhence clapped Yusuan Zhence on the shoulder. “My time is short. As Sixth Brother’s elder, I won’t be able to look after him or assist him in the future, but I am still his brother…”
“So…” Changkong Zhence offered a bleak smile. “As his brother, I must do something for him, mustn't I? That is a brother’s fate! Fourth Brother, if I should die prematurely someday, you must continue to play this role. Among us brothers, apart from me, you are the most suited to playing the villain…”
“Third Brother, what are you saying? I’m famous for being a good prince…”
“Yes, a good prince, truly a good prince.” Changkong Zhence’s smile was filled with the flavor of happy reminiscence. “Pulling a girl’s skirt at three, insisting on bathing with girls at eight, and…”
“Cough… cough… Brother… show me some mercy…”
“Heh heh… While I still can, let me recall these memories.” Changkong Zhence patted the head of Yusuan Zhence, who was no longer young himself. “When I eventually cannot wake up, I won't have memories left to recall. By then, you will have to remember them for me.”
“Brother…”
“Enough. Wait until I’m dead to weep. When Little Sixth matures, if I am already gone, give him this letter to read; consider it my final lesson for him.” Changkong Zhence gazed at the sky. “Second Brother, you must strive hard! I have calculated this… it shouldn’t go wrong! Few people know about those damned undead, but we can’t keep it hidden forever, and besides…”
Changkong Zhence sighed. “By the time they want the truth known, it will be too late. The Rookie King competitions for both the Human and Demon sides are about to start; this is an excellent opportunity…”